Free smoking cessation classes start at hospital

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Wayne Post

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Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 12:01 PM

Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 12:01 PM

NEWARK — As part of Wayne County Public Health’s and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital’s combined annual Community Service Plan goals to help improve the health of the community, a series of eight FREE “Smoking Cessation” classes will be offered at Newark-Wayne Community Hospital. Beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the weekly series will be held on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Cafeteria Conference Room No. 2. Other dates in the series include Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8, 17, 22 and 29. An extra class is scheduled On October 3rd, the week participants will become smoke-free. The program will be facilitated by Ryan Mulhern, B.S., Public Health Educator, Wayne County Public Health.

The American Lung Association’s “Freedom from Smoking” series provides educational materials and helps provide other supports for people participating in this program.

According to the American Cancer Society, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women and it is also the most preventable cancer death in our society. In Wayne County, statistics are even higher than the state average for both tobacco use and also for lung cancer. Besides lung cancer, tobacco use increases the risk for cancers of the: mouth, lips, nasal cavity, sinuses, kidneys and in many organs and tissues throughout the body. It also contributes to heart and lung diseases, stroke and other life-threatening conditions.

Wayne County has a higher rate of adult smokers than the NYS average (NYS percentage of adult smokers = 12.5 percent; Wayne County’s rate = 19.9 percent). Also Wayne County incidence of lung cancer is higher that the State’s average (NYS rate for males is 75.8 per 100,000; Wayne County rate for males is 92.3 per 100,000; NYS rate for females is 53.9 per 100,000; Wayne County rate for females is 70.9 per 100,000).

The community partners sponsoring this event include: Wayne County Public Health, Newark-Wayne Community Hospital, Wayne County Rural Health Network and the Cancer Services Program of Wayne County/Cancer Resource Center. They, along with other community partners, are committed to improving the health of their communities through on-going collaborative educational efforts and services.

For more information about smoking cessation or other services to quit smoking, call 946-5749.